“As a kid, my family listened to mostly country music,” Tucker said in an email exchange with CMT Edge. “I guess George Jones might be one of the first voices I can remember ever hearing. The first songs I ever learned to play were Creedence Clearwater Revival songs. By the time I was 12 years old, I was starting to really understand and appreciate the soul music that had been born right there in my hometown. “

Those influences are spread all over A Tell All, including the album’s first single, “Since Jimmy Came.” As a rule, Tucker thinks of herself as a mysteriously vague writer, but “Since Jimmy Came” is a rare and intriguing exception.

“This song is very specific,” she teased. “But it probably is not what you think it’s about at all. This actually came about from my observing nature on my farm.”

That was a little too mysterious for us, so we couldn’t resist following up to find out what the real story was.

“OK. … It’s about donkeys!” Tucker proclaimed. “I was fascinated by how protective the little mini mare was of her tiny newborn foal. She was relentlessly keeping the bigger male as far away from the baby as possible. He was so confused and innocent, but she would let him have it when he even looked at her. Priorities changed. It was beautiful and very inspiring to me. “